Controlling delivery of video programs using user defined identifiers for video receiver devices

ABSTRACT

A method of controlling delivery of video programs from video distribution equipment to video receiver devices includes receiving messages at the video distribution equipment from a mobile terminal operated by a user. The messages contain user defined identifiers that are associated with equipment identifiers of different ones of the video receiver devices. The user defined identifiers are stored associated with the equipment identifiers in a subscriber account. Delivery of video programs from the video distribution equipment to the video receiver devices is controlled in response to commands received from the mobile terminal which request delivery of identified video programs to identified ones of the user defined identifiers. Related video distribution equipment and mobile terminals are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/083,725, filed Apr. 11, 2011, pending, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference

FIELD

The present invention relates to video distribution, and moreparticularly to video distribution equipment and methods for controllingthe delivery of video programming to set-top boxes.

BACKGROUND

Consumers can now access to a large number of television programs overan increasing number of television channels. Set-top boxes such as cabletelevision receivers, satellite television receivers, and internettelevision receivers are becoming more popular because they providecertain advantages that were not previously available. Set-top boxes,for example, can allow users to digitally record programming contentsuch as television programs, lock certain channels from being accessedwithout permission, view electronic program guide data, and/or setpersonal preferences that control how the program guide data and/orprogramming content is presented to the user.

It is becoming increasingly common for users to have set-top boxes inmany different rooms of a house. Each of the set-top boxes can beindependently controlled to play different programs. While sometelevision networks allow only one-way communications from the backoffice to set-top boxes, it is becoming more common for televisionnetworks to allow bi-direction communications between the back officeand set-top boxes. With two-way communication capabilities, a user maybe able to operate one set-top box to control the functions of anotherset-top box via communications between the set-top boxes through theback office.

It is desirable to improve the user's ability to control all set-topboxes that are registered to the user, including enabling a user tooperate a single remote control device anywhere in the user's house tocontrol each of the set-top boxes and to do so irrespective of whetherthe television network allows one-way or bi-directional communicationsbetween the back office and the set-top boxes.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments are directed to a method of controlling delivery ofvideo programs from video distribution equipment to video receiverdevices, such as set-top boxes. Messages are received at the videodistribution equipment from a mobile terminal operated by a user. Themessages contain user defined identifiers that are associated withequipment identifiers of different ones of the video receiver devices.The user defined identifiers are stored associated with the equipmentidentifiers in a subscriber account. Delivery of video programs from thevideo distribution equipment to the video receiver devices is controlledin response to commands received from the mobile terminal which requestdelivery of identified video programs to identified ones of the userdefined identifiers.

Accordingly, the user can define identifiers for each of the videoreceiver devices, and can then subsequently use those identifiers tocontrol the delivery of video programs to the video receiver devices. Aswill be explained in further detail below, the user defined identifiersmay include textual descriptions (e.g., “home theater”) and/or graphicalicons that represent different ones of the video receiver devices.

In some further embodiments, the mobile terminal may be used to scan anoptical machine-readable representation (e.g. barcode) of the equipmentidentifiers of the video receiver devices. Alternatively, the videodistribution equipment may communicate different images to differentvideo receiver devices for display to a user, and may communicate all ofthe images to the mobile terminal. A user can sequentially move betweenthe video receiver devices to view which of the images is beingdisplayed through each of the video receiver devices, and can selectcorresponding images that are displayed on the mobile terminal and canassign identifiers to each of the selected video receiver devices.

Some other embodiments are directed to video distribution equipment thatcontrols delivery of video programs to video receiver devices. The videodistribution equipment is configured to receive messages from a mobileterminal containing user defined identifiers that are associated withequipment identifiers of different ones of the video receiver devices.The video distribution equipment is further configured to store the userdefined identifiers associated with the equipment identifiers in asubscriber account, and to control delivery of video programs to thevideo receiver devices in response to commands received from the mobileterminal which request delivery of identified video programs toidentified ones of the user defined identifiers.

Some other embodiments are directed to a mobile terminal that includes auser interface, a transceiver, and a microprocessor. The user interfaceis configured to receive user defined identifiers for video receiverdevices from a user. The transceiver is configured to communicate withvideo distribution equipment. The microprocessor is configured tocommunicate, through the transceiver, commands containing the userdefined identifiers for the video receiver devices to control deliveryof video programs from the video distribution equipment to the videoreceiver devices.

Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according toembodiments of the invention will be or become apparent to one withskill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detaileddescription. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods,and/or computer program products be included within this description, bewithin the scope of the present invention, and be protected by theaccompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate certain non-limiting embodiment(s)of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates a system that controlsdelivery of video programs from video distribution equipment in a backoffice to video receiver devices according to some embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a data flow diagram that illustrates operations and methodsperformed by the video distribution equipment and the mobile terminal ofFIG. 1 according to some embodiments;

FIGS. 3 a-c are data flow diagrams that illustrates operations andmethods performed by the video distribution equipment, the videoreceiver devices, and the mobile terminal of FIG. 1 according to someembodiments;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart that illustrates operations and methods performedby a functional controller of the video distribution equipment of FIG. 1according to some embodiments;

FIG. 5 is a data flow diagram that illustrates operations and methodsperformed by the video distribution equipment, the video receiverdevices, and the mobile terminal of FIG. 1 according to someembodiments;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram that illustrates a functional controller ofthe video distribution equipment of FIG. 1 that is configured accordingto some embodiments;

FIG. 7 illustrates the mobile terminal of FIG. 1 that is configuredaccording to some embodiments; and

FIGS. 8-15 are flowcharts that illustrate operations and methods of thevideo distribution equipment of FIG. 1 according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of theinvention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms and is not to be construed as limited to the embodimentsset forth herein.

Some embodiments are directed to controlling delivery of video programsfrom back-office video distribution equipment to a plurality of videoreceiver devices. Although various embodiments are described herein inthe context of the video receiver devices being set-top boxes (STBs),the video receiver devices are not limited to set-top boxes and may beany type of electronic device that can receive a video program fromvideo distribution equipment. Thus, for example, a video receiver devicemay include, but is not limited to, a cable television channel tuner, asatellite television channel tuner, a terrestrial broadcast televisionchannel tuner, a video gaming device or console, a desktop computer, alaptop computer, a tablet computer, a palmtop computer, a cellularphone, and/or a mobile terminal.

Example Video Distribution System:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates an example video distributionsystem 100 that separately controls the delivery of video programs fromvideo distribution equipment 110 in a back office to each of a pluralityof set-top boxes (STBs) 120 according to some embodiments. Referring toFIG. 1, the video distribution equipment 110 can include a functionalcontroller 112, a video on-demand server 114, a repository 116 (e.g.,database) of subscriber account information and associated set-top boxequipment identifiers (IDs), another repository 118 (e.g., database) ofset-top box equipment identifiers and associated user definedidentifiers for the set-top boxes 120, and a network interface 119.Although two repositories 116 and 118 have been shown in FIG. 1 for easeof illustration and explanation, they may be combined or the informationtherein may be distributed across more than two repositories.

The functional controller 112 is configured to control the flow of videoprograms, which are received in a broadcast network video stream 111(e.g., cable/satellite/terrestrial/Internet television network broadcastvideo stream) and/or which are stored within a video on-demand server114, through the network interface 119 to the set-top boxes 120. Thevideo streams communicated to the set-top boxes 120 can be displayed ondisplay devices 122 (e.g., LCD/plasma/cathode ray tube/other videodisplay) that may be part of one or more of the set-top boxes 120 and/ormay be connected to the one or more set-top boxes 120. The functionalcontroller 112 may, for example, be configured to provide videoon-demand services in response to commands received from the set-topboxes 120 and/or from a separate mobile terminal 150 operated by a user.The functional controller 112 may additionally or alternatively beconfigured to reroute/transfer a video flow that is presently directedto one of the set-top boxes 120 to instead being directed to another oneof the set-top boxes 120.

Thus, for example, a user who is viewing a movie through a set-top box120 in one room (e.g., living room) of a house may generate a commandthrough the set-top box 120, another set-top box 120, and/or the mobileterminal 150 that causes the functional controller 112 of the videodistribution equipment 110 to reroute the movie to another set-top box120 that is in another room (e.g., home theater) of the house.

Each of the set-top boxes 120 has an assigned equipment identifier. Thefunctional controller 112 can simultaneously provide different videoprograms for receipt by different ones of the set-top boxes 120 throughuse of their corresponding equipment identifiers.

The repository 116 stores subscriber account information that identifiesequipment identifiers for each of the set-top boxes 120 that areregistered with a subscriber. In the example of FIG. 1, four set-topboxes 120 are registered with a subscriber account. The equipmentidentifier of each of the set-top boxes 120 is stored in the repository116 associated with the subscriber account.

In accordance with some embodiments, the user can define identifiers foreach of the set-top boxes 120. The user defined identifiers arecommunicated to the functional controller 112 of the video distributionequipment 110, where there are stored in the repository 118 logicallyassociated with the equipment identifiers for the set-top boxes 120.Accordingly, the repository 118 may include a list of equipmentidentifiers for each of the set-top boxes 120 that are registered with asubscriber account and may further include a corresponding list of useridentifiers that have been defined by the user for each of the equipmentidentifiers of the set-top boxes 120. As described above, at least someof the information described herein as being stored in the repositories116 and 118 may be combined into a single repository or distributedacross more than two repositories.

For example, the user may define a “living room” textual identifier forone of the set-top boxes 120 in a living room of the user's house,define a “home theater” textual identifier for another one of theset-top boxes 120 in a home theater room, define a “bedroom 1” textualidentifier for another one of the set-top boxes 120 in a master bedroom,and define a “bedroom 2” textual identifier for another one of theset-top boxes 120 in a child's bedroom. The user defined textualidentifiers are communicated with another identifier that is known bythe functional controller 112 and used to determine an associationbetween the user defined textual identifiers and corresponding equipmentidentifiers for the set-top boxes 120. The functional controller 112stores the determined associations between the user defined textualidentifiers and the corresponding equipment identifiers in therepository 118 for subsequent use in controlling delivery of videoprograms to the set-top boxes 120. The user can then control thedelivery of video programs to one of the set-top boxes 120 byselecting/entering the corresponding user defined textual identifierthrough the mobile terminal 150.

For example, the mobile terminal 150 may display a plurality of userdefined identifiers for the set-top boxes 120. In the above home useexample, the mobile terminal 150 may display a plurality ofpictures/boxes with the corresponding textual labels “living room,”“home theater,” “bedroom 1,” and “bedroom 2.” The user may controldelivery of a video program to one of the set-top boxes 120 by selectingthe corresponding textual label (“living room,” “home theater,” “bedroom1,” or “bedroom 2”). The functional controller 112 responds to a commandreceived from the mobile terminal 150 that identifies selected textuallabel by using the repository 118 to determine the associated equipmentidentifier for the set-top box 120, and controls the delivery of a videoprogram to the determined equipment identifier. Thus, to transfer amovie (or other video program) that is presently playing through theset-top box 120 in the living room to the set-top box 120 in the hometheater room, the user may initiate a transfer command on the mobileterminal, select the “living room” identifier to identify which moviebeing played is to be transferred, and then select the “home theater”identifier to identify the set-top box 120 in the home theater as wherethe identified movie is to be transferred for further playing. The orderof the user's selection may occur in occur in another order withoutdeviating from this embodiment.

The mobile terminal 150 can be configured, for example, as a wirelesscommunication terminal that communicates with the video distributionequipment 110 through a radio access network 140 that is communicativelyconnected to the network interface 119. The RAN 140 may contain one ormore cellular radio access technology systems that may include, but arenot limited to, Global Standard for Mobile (GSM) communication, GeneralPacket Radio Service (GPRS), enhanced data rates for GSM evolution(EDGE), DCS, PDC, PCS, code division multiple access (CDMA),wideband-CDMA, CDMA2000, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System(UMTS), and/or 3GPP LTE (3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project Long TermEvolution). The RAN 140 may alternatively or additional communicate withthe mobile terminal 150 through a Wireless Local Area Network (i.e.,IEEE 802.11) interface, a Bluetooth interface, and/or other radiofrequency (RF) interface. The mobile terminal 150 may be furtherconfigured to communicate with the set-top boxes 120 using RF and/orinfrared (IR) communication signaling.

The video distribution equipment 110 may deliver video streams to theset-top boxes 120 and may be further configured to receivemessages/commands (e.g., Internet protocol television (IPTV)messages/commands and/or other video-on-demand messages/commands) fromone or more of the set-top boxes 120 through the network interface 119and a delivery network 130. The delivery network 130 may be a privatenetwork, a public network, such as the Internet, or a combination ofprivate and public network elements.

Example Operations and Methods for Identifying Set-Top Boxes andAssociated User Defined Identifiers:

In some embodiments, the user can enter the equipment identifier foreach of the set-top boxes 120 for which the user wants to define a useridentifier. The user may use a camera on the mobile terminal 150 to scanan optical machine-readable representation of the equipment identifier(e.g. barcode) that may be printed on a sticker or otherwise displayedon the set-top boxes 120. Alternatively or additionally, the user maymanually enter (e.g. type through a keyboard/keypad) the equipmentidentifier into the mobile terminal 150. The wireless terminal 150 canthen communicate the entered equipment identifier and a correspondinguser defined identifier for the set-top box 120 to the videodistribution equipment 110 for storage in the repository 118, and forsubsequent use in controlling delivery of video programs to the set-topbox 120.

These and other operations and methods are illustrated by the data flowdiagram of FIG. 2, which can be performed by the video distributionequipment 110 and the mobile terminal 150 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the mobile terminal 150 receives (block 200) anequipment identifier for a set-top box 120 by scanning the opticalmachine-readable representation of the equipment identifier and/or by auser manually entering the equipment identifier through a userinterface. The mobile terminal 150 also receives (block 202) a userdefined identifier for the set-top box 120. Mobile terminal 150communicates (block 204) a message containing the equipment identifierand the user defined identifier for the set-top box 120 to thefunctional controller 112 of the video distribution equipment 110. Thefunctional controller 112 responds to receipt of the message byaccessing the repository 116 to look up (block 206) the subscriberaccount using the equipment ID contained in the message. The functionalcontroller 112 then stores (block 208) the user defined identifierlogically associated with the equipment identifier of the set-top box120 in the repository 118.

The mobile terminal 150 and the functional controller 112 repeat thecorresponding operations of blocks 200 through 208 as the user moves todifferent ones of the set-top boxes 120 (e.g., moving from room-to-roomin the user's house) to define different identifiers for each of theset-top boxes 120, and to have those user defined identifiers stored inthe repository 118 where they are logically associated with theequipment identifiers for those set-top boxes 120.

Other Operations and Methods for Identifying Set-Top Boxes andAssociated User Defined Identifiers:

In some other embodiments, the video distribution equipment 110communicates different images to each of the set-top boxes 120 tofacilitate the user's identification of each of the set-top boxes 120 tothe video distribution equipment 110. The video distribution equipment110 may also communicate each of the images to the mobile terminal 150where they are displayed on a display device. The user can then observeone of images that is being displayed through one of the set-top boxes120 and select the corresponding image that is being displayed by themobile terminal 150, and can enter a user defined identifier for thatset-top box 120. The mobile terminal 150 can communicate a message tothe video distribution equipment 110 that contains image selection datathat identifies one of images displayed on the mobile terminal 150 thathas been selected by the user as corresponding to one of images observedby the user through one of the set-top boxes 120 and further contain theuser-defined identifier for that set-top box 120.

Alternatively or additionally, the mobile terminal 150 may take apicture of one of images that is being displayed through one of theset-top boxes 120. The mobile terminal 150 can communicate a message tothe video distribution equipment 110 that contains the picture alongwith the user-defined identifier for that set-top box 120 through whichthe pictured image was displayed.

These and other operations are further illustrated by FIGS. 3 a-c, whichare data flow diagrams of operations and methods performed by the videodistribution equipment 110, the video receiver devices 120, and themobile terminal 150 of FIG. 1 according to some embodiments. Referringto FIGS. 3 a-b, the user may operate the mobile terminal 150 to login tothe subscriber account and communicate (block 300) a pairing command tothe functional controller 112 of the video distribution equipment 110 toinitiate pairing of one or more set-top boxes 120 to corresponding userdefined identifiers for those set-top boxes 120. The pairing command mayalternatively or additionally be communicated from one or more of theset-top boxes 120 to the functional controller 112 in response to, forexample, a user pressing a button on the set-top box(es) 120 or a remotecontrol device.

The functional controller 112 responds to the pairing command byaccessing the repository 116 to identify (block 302) the set-top boxes120 that are registered with the subscriber account. The functionalcontroller 112 then generates (block 304) a first image “image 1” foruse with a first one of the set-top boxes 120 (“STB1”), a second image“image 2” for use with a second one of the set-top boxes 120 (“STB2”),and generates further images including an Nth image (“image N”) for usewith an Nth one of the set-top boxes 120 (“STB N”), where N is aninteger greater than one. Each of images may be different from oneanother, and may be retrieved from among a list of images that mayreside in the repository 118.

The functional controller 112 may transcode (block 306) each of theimages into a corresponding video stream to generate a plurality ofvideo streams (e.g., N number of images can be transcoded to generate Nvideo streams), and the video streams are communicated to the videoreceiver devices using a different carrier frequency. The functionalcontroller 112 may also communicate force tune commands containing theequipment identifiers of the 1-Nth set-top boxes 120 to cause each ofthe 1-Nth set-top boxes 120 to tune to a different one of the carrierfrequencies to receive one of the video streams containing one of theimages associated with the respect equipment identifier for the set-topbox 120.

The functional controller 112 may store (block 306) a listing of theimages sent to each of the set-top boxes 120 and the correspondingequipment identifiers for those set-top boxes 120 in the repository 116associated with the subscriber account.

For example, the functional controller 112 can communicate the firstvideo stream containing the first image using a first carrier frequencyand communicate a force tune command to the first set-top box 120(“STB1”). The first set-top box 120 (“STB1”) identifies (block 308) it'sequipment identifier in the force tune command, and tunes to the firstcarrier frequency to display the first video stream containing the firstimage on the associated display device 122. Similarly, the functionalcontroller 112 can communicate the second video stream containing thesecond image using a second carrier frequency and communicate a forcetune command to the second set-top box 120 (“STB2”). The second set-topbox 120 (“STB2”) identifies (block 310) it's equipment identifier in theforce tune command, and tunes to the second carrier frequency to displaythe second video stream containing the second image on the associateddisplay device 122. In a similar manner, the functional controller 112can communicate the Nth video stream containing the Nth image using aNth carrier frequency and communicate a force tune command to the Nthset-top box 120 (“STB N”). The Nth set-top box 120 (“STB N”) identifies(block 312) it's equipment identifier in the force tune command, andtunes to the Nth carrier frequency to display the Nth video streamcontaining the Nth image on the associated display device 122.

FIG. 3 b illustrates operations and methods that correspond to theembodiment described above in which all of the images communicated tothe 1-Nth set-top boxes 120 are also communicated to the mobile terminal150 for display to the user. The user can then observe one of imagesthat is being displayed through one of the set-top boxes 120 and selectthe corresponding image that is being displayed by the mobile terminal150, and can enter a user defined identifier for that set-top box 120.

Referring to FIG. 3 b, the functional controller 112 communicates (block314) each of images 1 to N to the mobile terminal 150 for display on adisplay device. The user can then observe the first image (“image 1”)that is being displayed through the first set-top box 120 and selects(block 316) the corresponding first image (“image 1”) that is beingdisplayed by the mobile terminal 150. The user can also enter (block316) a user defined identifier (e.g., a textual description and/orgraphical representations) for the first set-top box 120. The mobileterminal 150 can communicate (block 318) a message to the functionalcontroller 112 that contains image selection data that identifies thefirst image (“image 1”) displayed on the mobile terminal that has beenselected by the user as corresponding to the first image (“image 1”)observed by the user through the first set-top box 120 and can furthercontain the user-defined identifier for the first set-top box 120.

The functional controller 112 accesses the repository 116 using theimage selection data including the identified first image (“image 1”) tolook up (block 320) the equipment identifier for the first set-top box120. The functional controller 112 stores (block 330) the user-definedidentifier from the message in the repository 118 logically associatedwith the equipment identifier for the first set-top box 120.

Similarly, the user can move to another room containing the secondset-top box 120, observe the second image (“image 2”) that is beingdisplayed through the second set-top box 120 and selects (block 332) thecorresponding second image (“image 2”) that is being displayed by themobile terminal 150. The user can also enter (block 332) a user definedidentifier (e.g., a textual description and/or graphical identifier) forthe second set-top box 120. The mobile terminal 150 can communicate(block 334) a message to the functional controller 112 that containsimage selection data that identifies the second image (“image 2”)displayed on the mobile terminal that has been selected by the user ascorresponding to the second image (“image 2”) observed by the userthrough the second set-top box 120 and can further contain theuser-defined identifier for the second set-top box 120.

The functional controller 112 accesses the repository 116 using theimage selection data including the identified second image (“image 2”)to look up (block 336) the equipment identifier for the second set-topbox 120. The functional controller 112 stores (block 338) theuser-defined identifier from the message in the repository 118 logicallyassociated with the equipment identifier for the second set-top box 120.

In a similar manner, the user move to yet another room containing theNth set-top box 120, observe the Nth image (“image N”) that is beingdisplayed through the Nth set-top box 120 and selects (block 340) thecorresponding second image (“image N”) that is being displayed by themobile terminal 150. The user can also enter (block 340) a user definedidentifier (e.g., a textual description and/or graphical identifier) forthe Nth set-top box 120. The mobile terminal 150 can communicate (block342) a message to the functional controller 112 that contains imageselection data that identifies the Nth image (“image N”) displayed onthe mobile terminal that has been selected by the user as correspondingto the Nth image (“image N”) observed by the user through the Nthset-top box 120 and can further contain the user-defined identifier forthe Nth set-top box 120.

The functional controller 112 accesses the repository 116 using theimage selection data including the identified Nth image (“image N”) tolook up (block 344) the equipment identifier for the Nth set-top box120. The functional controller 112 stores (block 346) the user-definedidentifier from the message in the repository 118 logically associatedwith the equipment identifier for the Nth set-top box 120.

FIG. 3 c illustrates operations and methods that correspond to theembodiment described above in which the mobile terminal 150 is used totake a picture of one of images that is being displayed through one ofthe set-top boxes 120. The mobile terminal 150 can communicate a messageto the functional controller 112 that contains the picture along withthe user-defined identifier for that set-top box 120 through which thepictured image was displayed. The operations and methods of FIG. 3 c maybe used as an alternative to or in addition to the operations andmethods of FIG. 3 b.

Referring to FIG. 3 c, the user operates the mobile terminal 150 to takea picture (block 350) of the first image (“image 1”) that is displayedthrough the first set-top box 120, and to receive a user definedidentifier for the first set-top box 120. Mobile terminal 150communicates (block 352) a message to the functional controller 112containing the picture and the user-defined identifier. The functionalcontroller 112 identifies (block 354) the first image (“image 1”) in thepicture, and accesses the repository 116 to look up (block 354) theequipment identifier for the first set-top box 120 using the identifiedfirst image (“image 1”) and the associations stored in the repository116 that identify which of the images were sent to which of the set-topboxes 120. The functional controller 112 stores (block 356) theuser-defined identifier from the message in the repository 118 logicallyassociated with the equipment identifier for the first set-top box 120.

The user further operates the mobile terminal 150 to take a picture(block 358) of the second image (“image 2”) that is displayed throughthe second set-top box 120, and to receive a user defined identifier forthe second set-top box 120. Mobile terminal 150 communicates (block 360)a message to the functional controller 112 containing the picture andthe user-defined identifier. The functional controller 112 identifies(block 362) the second image (“image 2”) in the picture, and accessesthe repository 116 to look up (block 362) the equipment identifier forthe second set-top box 120 using the identified second image (“image 2”)and the associations stored in the repository 116 that identify which ofthe images were sent to which of the set-top boxes 120. The functionalcontroller 112 stores (block 364) the user-defined identifier from themessage in the repository 118 logically associated with the equipmentidentifier for the second set-top box 120.

In a similar manner, the user further operates the mobile terminal 150to take a picture (block 366) of the Nth image (“image N”) that isdisplayed through the Nth set-top box 120, and to receive a user definedidentifier for the Nth set-top box 120. Mobile terminal 150 communicates(block 368) a message to the functional controller 112 containing thepicture and the user-defined identifier. The functional controller 112identifies (block 370) the Nth image (“image N”) in the picture, andaccesses the repository 116 to look up (block 370) the equipmentidentifier for the Nth set-top box 120 using the identified Nth image(“image N”) and the associations stored in the repository 116 thatidentify which of the images were sent to which of the set-top boxes120. The functional controller 112 stores (block 372) the user-definedidentifier from the message in the repository 118 logically associatedwith the equipment identifier for the Nth set-top box 120.

The video distribution controller 110 may facilitate the user'sdefinition of user defined identifiers for each of the set-top boxes 120by identifying all set-top boxes 120 that are registered with thesubscriber account and communicating a different image for display oneach of those set-top boxes 120. These operations and methods may beperformed by the functional controller 112 in boxes 302-306 of FIG. 3 a,and are illustrated below in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 4, the functionalcontroller 112 accesses the repository 116 to look-up (block 400) theequipment identifiers for all of the set-top boxes 120 that areregistered with the subscriber account. A counter “X” is initialized(block 402) to the number of set-top boxes 120 that are registered withthe subscriber account, and another counter “Y” is initialized to 1.

A unique image corresponding to counter Y is retrieved (block 404), suchas from the repository 118, for communication to the set-top boxcorresponding to counter Y. The image is transcoded (block 406) togenerate a video stream corresponding to counter Y. When a video streamhas not yet been generated for all of the set-top boxes 120 (i.e., Y<Xin block 408), the counter Y is incremented (block 410) and theoperations of blocks 404-408 are repeated.

When a video stream has been generated for all of the set-top boxes 120(i.e., Y=X), the video streams are output (block 412), each of the videostreams includes a different one of the equipment identifiers for theset-top boxes 120 so that the set-top boxes 120 each receive and displaythe image contained in a different one of the video streams.

Example Operations and Methods for Controlling Delivery of VideoPrograms Using the User Defined Identifiers:

As explained above, once the user defined identifiers (e.g., textualdescriptions and/or graphical representations) and the correspondingequipment identifiers for one of more of the set-top boxes 120 have beenlogically associated together and stored by the video distributionequipment 110, the user can then control delivery of video programs fromthe video distribution equipment 110 to selected ones of those set-topboxes 120 using the user defined identifiers.

FIG. 5 is a data flow diagram that illustrates operations and methodsthat redirect the delivery of a video program from the videodistribution equipment 100 to one of the set-top boxes 120 to instead bedelivered to another one of the set-top boxes 120 through use of userdefined identifiers for those set-top boxes.

Referring to FIG. 5, the mobile terminal 150 displays (block 500) on adisplay device the user defined identifiers for the set-top boxes 120.The user defined identifiers may be displayed as textual descriptionswithin or adjacent to graphical representations of the set-top boxes120. For example, each of the set-top boxes 120 may be displayed asicons that represent a video tuner device (e.g., cable televisiontuner), and a label may be displayed adjacent to the icons to identifywhich of the set-top boxes 120 is in the “living room,” the “hometheater,” the “bedroom1,” and the “bedroom2.”

The functional controller 502 directs a video stream to a first one ofthe set-top boxes 120 for display on the associated video display 122.

To transfer (redirect) the video stream from being played through afirst one of the set-top boxes 120 to instead or additionally beingplayed through an Nth one of the set-top boxes 120, the user operatesthe mobile terminal 150 to select (block 504) the correspondingdisplayed icons of the first and Nth boxes and select a command fortransferring the video stream. When the display device of the mobileterminal 150 is a touch controlled display, the user may touch selectthe displayed icons for the first and Nth set-top boxes 120. The mobileterminal 150 communicates (block 506) to the functional controller 112 acommand containing the user defined identifiers for the selected firstand Nth set-top boxes 120 and an instruction to transfer the videostream.

The functional controller 112 uses the received user defined identifiersto look-up (block 508) the equipment identifiers for the correspondingfirst and Nth set-top boxes 120. The functional controller 112 redirects(block 510) the video stream to the equipment identifier for the Nthset-top box 120 and may cease directing the video stream to theequipment identifier for the first set-top box 120.

When the mobile terminal 150 is configured to control the Nth set-topbox 120 (e.g., a universal remote type function that can send IR/RFcommands to control the Nth set-top box 120), the functional controller112 may also configure (block 512) the mobile terminal 150 to activate acontrol mode for controlling the Nth set-top box. The user may therebystart controlling the Nth set-top box 120 using the mobile terminal 150.

The user may similarly start delivery of a video stream, restartdelivery of a video stream, partially rewind in time the delivery of avideo stream, fast-forward in time the delivery of a video stream,jump-forward in time the delivery of a video stream, pause delivery of avideo stream, and/or perform other operations to control the delivery ofa video stream from the video distribution equipment 110 to a desiredset-top box 120 by controlling the mobile terminal 150 to select adisplayed icon that corresponds to the desired set-top box 120 and todefine a corresponding action that is to be performed by the videodistribution equipment 110. The user defined identifier corresponding tothe displayed icon for the desired set-top box 120 and the correspondingaction are communicated to the video distribution equipment 110.

Example Functional Controller Configuration for Video DistributionEquipment:

FIG. 6 is a block diagram that illustrates the functional controller 112of the video distribution equipment 110 of FIG. 1 that is configuredaccording to some embodiments. Referring to FIG. 6, the functionalcontroller 112 may include a microprocessor 600 and memory device(s)610. The memory device(s) 610 include mass storage devices, such as oneor more disk drives and/or semiconductor memory, that containinstructions that are executable by the microprocessor 600, and mayfurther include information forming at least part of the repositories116 and 118. The microprocessor 600 may include one or more dataprocessing circuits, such as a general purpose and/or special purposeprocessor with on-board and/or separate memory devices. Themicroprocessor 600 is configured to execute computer programinstructions in applications 612 within a memory, which is describedbelow as a computer readable medium and which may reside within thememory device(s) 610, to perform at least some of the functionalitydescribed herein for the functional controller 112.

Example Mobile Terminal Configuration:

FIG. 7 illustrates the mobile terminal 150 of FIG. 1 that is configuredaccording to some embodiments. Referring to FIG. 7, the mobile terminal150 may include a microprocessor 700, memory device(s) 710, an infraredtransmitter 720, a WIFI (e.g., IEEE 802.11) transceiver 722, a cellulartransceiver 724, a display device 730, a user input interface 740 (e.g.,keyboard, keypad, and/or touch screen interface), and/or a camera device750. The WIFI transceiver 722 and the cellular transceiver 724 may beconfigured to communicate with the video distribution equipment 110 viathe radio access network 140. The cellular transceiver 724 may operateaccording to a cellular radio access technology that may include, but isnot limited to, Global Standard for Mobile (GSM), General Packet RadioService (GPRS), enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE), DCS, PDC,PCS, code division multiple access (CDMA), wideband-CDMA, CDMA2000,Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), and/or 3GPP LTE(3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project Long Term Evolution).

The display device 1120 may be configured to display one or more videostreams, such as by the methods and operations described herein. Themicroprocessor 700 may include one or more data processing circuits,such as a general purpose and/or special purpose processor with on-boardand/or separate memory devices. The computer/processor circuit 1110 isconfigured to execute computer program instructions in applications 712within a memory, which is described below as a computer readable mediumand which may reside within the memory device(s) 710, to perform atleast some of the functionality described herein for the mobile terminal150.

Further Embodiments

FIGS. 8-15 are flowcharts that illustrate operations and methods of thevideo distribution equipment of FIG. 1 according to some embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 8, operations and methods are disclosed forcontrolling the delivery of video programs from the video distributionequipment 110 to video receiver devices, such as the set-top boxes 120.Messages are received (block 800) at the video distribution equipment110 from a mobile terminal 150 operated by a user. The messages containuser defined identifiers that are associated with equipment identifiersof different ones of the video receiver devices 120. The user definedidentifiers are stored (block 802) associated with the equipmentidentifiers in a subscriber account. Delivery of video programs from thevideo distribution equipment 110 to the video receiver devices 120 iscontrolled (block 804) in response to commands received from the mobileterminal 150 requesting delivery of identified video programs toidentified ones of the user defined identifiers 120.

Referring to FIG. 9, the control of delivery of video programs from thevideo distribution equipment to the video receiver devices may includereceiving (block 900) at the video distribution equipment 110 from themobile terminal 150 a command requesting delivery of one of the videoprograms to one of the user defined identifiers. One of the equipmentidentifiers that is associated with the one of the user definedidentifiers is identified (block 902) from the subscriber account.Delivery is carried out (block 904) for the one of the video programs toone of the video receiver devices 120 having the identified one of theequipment identifiers.

Referring to FIG. 10, the operations and methods may further includegenerating (block 1000) the equipment identifier for one of the videoreceiver devices 120 in response to the mobile terminal 150 scanning anoptical machine readable representation of the equipment identifier fromthe one of the video receiver devices 120. The user defined identifierfor the one of the video receiver devices 120 is received (block 1002).One of the messages is generated (block 1004) using the equipmentidentifier and the received user defined identifier for the one of thevideo receiver devices 120.

Referring to FIG. 11, storing of the user defined identifiers associatedwith the equipment identifiers in the subscriber account may includelooking-up (block 1100) the subscriber account in response to theequipment identifier contained in one of the messages. The user definedidentifier can be stored (block 1102) in the subscriber accountlogically associated with the equipment identifier contained in the oneof the messages.

Referring to FIG. 12, images can be communicated (block 1200) to thevideo receiver devices 120 that are registered with the subscriberaccount so that each of the video receiver devices 120 receives adifferent image. In each of the messages from the mobile terminal 150,image selection data is received (block 1202) that identifies one of theimages that is selected by the user as corresponding to one of theimages observed by the user through one of the video receiver devices120 and receiving a user defined identifier for the one of the videoreceiver devices 120.

Referring to FIG. 13, the operations and methods may further includecommunicating (block 1300) the images to the mobile terminal 150 fordisplay to the user. In each of the messages from the mobile terminal150, image selection data is received (block 1302) that identifies oneof the images displayed on the mobile terminal 150 that is selected bythe user as corresponding to one of the images observed by the userthrough one of the video receiver devices 120 and receiving the userdefined identifier for the one of the video receiver devices 120.Image-to-device associations between the images and the equipmentidentifiers of the video receiver devices 120 are stored (block 1304).The image-to-device associations are used to determine (block 1306) oneof the equipment identifiers that is associated with the image selectiondata that is received in one of the messages from the mobile terminal150. The user defined identifier from the one of the messages logicallyassociated with the equipment identifier determined from theimage-to-device associations is stored (block 1308) in the subscriberaccount.

Referring to FIG. 14, the operations and methods may further includereceiving (block 1400) in each of the messages from the mobile terminal150 a picture of one of the images displayed through one of the videoreceiver devices 120 and receiving the user defined identifier for theone of the video receiver devices 120. The image-to-device associationsbetween the images and the video receiver devices 120 are stored (block1402). One of the equipment identifiers that is associated with thepicture of one of the images that is received in one of the messagesfrom the mobile terminal 150 is determined (block 1404) from theimage-to-device associations. The user defined identifier from the oneof the messages logically associated with the equipment identifierdetermined from the image-to-device associations is stored (block 1406)in the subscriber account.

Referring to FIG. 15, communication of the images to the video receiverdevices that are registered with the subscriber account may includeidentifying (block 1500) equipment identifiers for the video receiverdevices 120 registered with the subscriber account. A different one ofthe images is associated (block 1502) with each the equipmentidentifiers. Each of the images are transcoded (block 1504) into a videostream to generate a plurality of video streams. The video streams arecommunicated (block 1506) to the video receiver devices 120. Each of thevideo streams are communicated using a different carrier frequency.Force tune commands containing the equipment identifiers of the videoreceiver devices 120 are communicated (block 1508) to cause each of thevideo receiver devices 120 to tune to a different one of the carrierfrequencies to receive one of the video streams containing one of theimages associated with the equipment identifier for the video receiverdevice 120.

Further Embodiments and Definitions

In the above-description of various embodiments of the presentinvention, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein isfor the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is notintended to be limiting of the invention. Unless otherwise defined, allterms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have thesame meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the artto which this invention belongs. It will be further understood thatterms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should beinterpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning inthe context of this specification and the relevant art and will not beinterpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense expressly so definedherein.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. maybe used herein to describe various elements, these elements should notbe limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish oneelement from another. For example, a first element could be termed asecond element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a firstelement, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Asused herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of oneor more of the associated listed items.

When an element is referred to as being “connected”, “coupled”,“responsive”, or variants thereof to another element, it can be directlyconnected, coupled, or responsive to the other element or interveningelements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to asbeing “directly connected”, “directly coupled”, “directly responsive”,or variants thereof to another element, there are no interveningelements present. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.Furthermore, “coupled”, “connected”, “responsive”, or variants thereofas used herein may include wirelessly coupled, connected, or responsive.As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described indetail for brevity and/or clarity. The term “and/or” includes any andall combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

As used herein, the terms “comprise”, “comprising”, “comprises”,“include”, “including”, “includes”, “have”, “has”, “having”, or variantsthereof are open-ended, and include one or more stated features,integers, elements, steps, components or functions but does not precludethe presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,elements, steps, components, functions or groups thereof. Furthermore,as used herein, the common abbreviation “e.g.”, which derives from theLatin phrase “exempli gratia,” may be used to introduce or specify ageneral example or examples of a previously mentioned item, and is notintended to be limiting of such item. The common abbreviation “i.e.”,which derives from the Latin phrase “id est,” may be used to specify aparticular item from a more general recitation.

Example embodiments are described herein with reference to blockdiagrams and/or flowchart illustrations of computer-implemented methods,apparatus (systems and/or devices) and/or computer program products. Itis understood that a block of the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustrations, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/orflowchart illustrations, can be implemented by computer programinstructions that are performed by one or more computer circuits. Thesecomputer program instructions may be provided to a processor circuit ofa general purpose computer circuit, special purpose computer circuit,and/or other programmable data processing circuit to produce a machine,such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of thecomputer and/or other programmable data processing apparatus, transformand control transistors, values stored in memory locations, and otherhardware components within such circuitry to implement thefunctions/acts specified in the block diagrams and/or flowchart block orblocks, and thereby create means (functionality) and/or structure forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the block diagrams and/orflowchart block(s).

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a tangiblecomputer-readable medium that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the functions/acts specified in the block diagrams and/orflowchart block or blocks.

A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium may include anelectronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, or semiconductor datastorage system, apparatus, or device. More specific examples of thecomputer-readable medium would include the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a random access memory (RAM) circuit, a read-onlymemory (ROM) circuit, an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory) circuit, a portable compact disc read-only memory(CD-ROM), and a portable digital video disc read-only memory(DVD/BlueRay).

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computerand/or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer and/or otherprogrammable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process suchthat the instructions which execute on the computer or otherprogrammable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/actsspecified in the block diagrams and/or flowchart block or blocks.Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may be embodied inhardware and/or in software (including firmware, resident software,micro-code, etc.) that runs on a processor such as a digital signalprocessor, which may collectively be referred to as “circuitry,” “amodule” or variants thereof.

It should also be noted that in some alternate implementations, thefunctions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted inthe flowcharts. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in factbe executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes beexecuted in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/actsinvolved. Moreover, the functionality of a given block of the flowchartsand/or block diagrams may be separated into multiple blocks and/or thefunctionality of two or more blocks of the flowcharts and/or blockdiagrams may be at least partially integrated. Finally, other blocks maybe added/inserted between the blocks that are illustrated. Moreover,although some of the diagrams include arrows on communication paths toshow a primary direction of communication, it is to be understood thatcommunication may occur in the opposite direction to the depictedarrows.

Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connectionwith the above description and the drawings. It will be understood thatit would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe andillustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments.Accordingly, the present specification, including the drawings, shall beconstrued to constitute a complete written description of variousexample combinations and subcombinations of embodiments and of themanner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims toany such combination or subcombination.

Many variations and modifications can be made to the embodiments withoutsubstantially departing from the principles of the present invention.All such variations and modifications are intended to be included hereinwithin the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of controlling delivery of videoprograms from video distribution equipment to video receiver devices,the method comprising: receiving, at the video distribution equipmentfrom a mobile terminal operated by a user, messages containing userdefined identifiers that are associated with equipment identifiers ofdifferent ones of the video receiver devices, wherein the receivingfurther comprises communicating images to the video receiver devicesthat are registered with a subscriber account, wherein each of the videoreceiver devices receives a different image, and receiving, in each ofthe messages from the mobile terminal, image selection data thatidentifies one of the images that is selected by the user ascorresponding to one of the images observed by the user through one ofthe video receiver devices and receiving a user defined identifier forthe one of the video receiver devices; storing the user definedidentifiers associated with the equipment identifiers in the subscriberaccount; and controlling delivery of video programs from the videodistribution equipment to the video receiver devices in response tocommands received from the mobile terminal requesting delivery ofidentified video programs to identified ones of the user definedidentifiers.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling delivery ofvideo programs from the video distribution equipment to the videoreceiver devices comprises: receiving at the video distributionequipment from the mobile terminal a command requesting delivery of oneof the video programs to one of the user defined identifiers;identifying, from the subscriber account, one of the equipmentidentifiers that is associated with the one of the user definedidentifiers; and delivering the one of the video programs to one of thevideo receiver devices having the identified one of the equipmentidentifiers.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: generatingthe equipment identifier for one of the video receiver devices inresponse to the mobile terminal scanning an optical machine readablerepresentation of the equipment identifier from the one of the videoreceiver devices; receiving the user defined identifier for the one ofthe video receiver devices; and generating one of the messages using theequipment identifier and the received user defined identifier for theone of the video receiver devices.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereinstoring the user defined identifiers associated with the equipmentidentifiers in the subscriber account comprises: looking-up thesubscriber account in response to the equipment identifier contained inone of the messages; and storing in the subscriber account the userdefined identifier logically associated with the equipment identifiercontained in the one of the messages.
 5. The method of claim 1, whereinreceiving, at the video distribution equipment from the mobile terminaloperated by the user, messages containing user defined identifiers thatare associated with equipment identifiers of different ones of the videoreceiver devices further comprises: communicating the images to themobile terminal for display to the user; and receiving, in each of themessages from the mobile terminal, image selection data that identifiesone of the images displayed on the mobile terminal that is selected bythe user as corresponding to one of the images observed by the userthrough one of the video receiver devices and receiving the user definedidentifier for the one of the video receiver devices.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, wherein storing the user defined identifiers associated withthe equipment identifiers in the subscriber account comprises: storingimage-to-device associations between the images and the equipmentidentifiers of the video receiver devices; determining from theimage-to-device associations one of the equipment identifiers that isassociated with the image selection data that is received in one of themessages from the mobile terminal; and storing in the subscriber accountthe user defined identifier from the one of the messages logicallyassociated with the equipment identifier determined from theimage-to-device associations.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein storingthe user defined identifiers associated with the equipment identifiersin the subscriber account comprises: storing image-to-deviceassociations between the images and the video receiver devices;determining from the image-to-device associations one of the equipmentidentifiers that is associated with the picture of one of the imagesthat is received in one of the messages from the mobile terminal; andstoring in the subscriber account the user defined identifier from theone of the messages logically associated with the equipment identifierdetermined from the image-to-device associations.
 8. The method of claim1, wherein communicating images to the video receiver devices that areregistered with the subscriber account comprises: identifying equipmentidentifiers for the video receiver devices registered with thesubscriber account; associating a different one of the images with eachthe equipment identifiers; and communicating the images and associatedequipment identifiers to the video receiver devices.
 9. The method ofclaim 8, wherein communicating the images and associated equipmentidentifiers to the video receiver devices comprises: transcoding each ofthe images into a video stream to generate a plurality of video streams;communicating the video streams to the video receiver devices, whereineach of the video streams are communicated using a different carrierfrequency; and communicating force tune commands containing theequipment identifiers of the video receiver devices to cause each of thevideo receiver devices to tune to a different one of the carrierfrequencies to receive one of the video streams containing one of theimages associated with the equipment identifier for the video receiverdevice.
 10. Video distribution equipment that controls delivery of videoprograms to video receiver devices, the video distribution equipment isconfigured to: communicate images to the video receiver devices that areregistered with a subscriber account, wherein each of the video receiverdevices receives a different image; receive messages from a mobileterminal containing user defined identifiers that are associated withequipment identifiers of different ones of the video receiver devices;receive in each of the messages from the mobile terminal image selectiondata corresponding to images displayed through one of the video receiverdevices and to receive the user defined identifier for the one of thevideo receiver devices; determine from the image-to-device associationsone of the equipment identifiers that is associated with the imageselection data that is received in one of the messages from the mobileterminal; store in the subscriber account the user defined identifierfrom the one of the messages logically associated with the equipmentidentifier determined from the image-to-device associations; store theuser defined identifiers associated with the equipment identifiers in asubscriber account; and control delivery of video programs to the videoreceiver devices in response to commands received from the mobileterminal requesting delivery of identified video programs to identifiedones of the user defined identifiers.
 11. The video distributionequipment of claim 10, further configured to: receive a command from themobile terminal requesting delivery of one of the video programs to oneof the user defined identifiers; identify, from the subscriber account,one of the equipment identifiers that is associated with the one of theuser defined identifiers; and deliver the one of the video programs toone of the video receiver devices having the identified one of theequipment identifiers.
 12. The video distribution equipment of claim 10,further configured to: store image-to-device associations between theimages and the equipment identifiers of the video receiver devices;communicate the images to the mobile terminal for display to the user;receive, in each of the messages from the mobile terminal, imageselection data that identifies one of the images displayed on the mobileterminal that is selected by the user as corresponding to one of theimages observed by the user through one of the video receiver devicesand to receive the user defined identifier for the one of the videoreceiver devices; determine from the image-to-device associations one ofthe equipment identifiers that is associated with the image selectiondata that is received in one of the messages from the mobile terminal;and store in the subscriber account the user defined identifier from theone of the messages logically associated with the equipment identifierdetermined from the image-to-device associations.
 13. The videodistribution equipment of claim 10, further configured to communicateimages to the video receiver devices that are registered with thesubscriber account by: identifying equipment identifiers for the videoreceiver devices registered with the subscriber account; associating adifferent one of the images with each the equipment identifiers; andtranscoding each of the images into a video stream to generate aplurality of video streams; communicating the video streams to the videoreceiver devices, wherein each of the video streams are communicatedusing a different carrier frequency; and communicating force tunecommands containing the equipment identifiers of the video receiverdevices to cause each of the video receiver devices to tune to adifferent one of the carrier frequencies to receive one of the videostreams containing one of the images associated with the equipmentidentifier for the video receiver device.
 14. A mobile terminalcomprising: a user interface that is configured to receive user definedidentifiers for video receiver devices from a user; a transceiver thatis configured to communicate with video distribution equipment; at leastone microprocessor that is configured to communicate, through thetransceiver, commands including user defined identifiers for the videoreceiver devices to control delivery of video programs from the videodistribution equipment to the video receiver devices, wherein the atleast one microprocessor is further configured to communicate imageselection data that corresponds to one of the images observed by theuser through one of the video receiver devices.
 15. The mobile terminalof claim 14, further comprising: a display device, wherein themicroprocessor is further configured to: receive a plurality of imagesthat are different from each other; display the images on the displaydevice; receive through the user interface an image selection data thatidentifies one of the images displayed on the display device that hasbeen selected by the user as corresponding to one of the images observedby the user through one of the video receiver devices; receive throughthe user interface a user defined identifier for the one of the videoreceiver devices; and communicate to the video distribution equipment amessage containing the image selection data and the user definedidentifier for the one of the video receiver devices.
 16. The mobileterminal of claim 14, further comprising: a camera device, wherein themicroprocessor is further configured to: operate the camera deviceresponsive to a command from the user to take a picture of an image thatthe video distribution equipment displays through one of the videoreceiver devices on a display device that is separate from the mobileterminal; receive through the user interface a user defined identifierfor the one of the video receiver devices; and communicate to the videodistribution equipment a message containing the picture of the image andthe user defined identifier for the one of the video receiver devices.17. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the microprocessor isfurther configured to: communicate a command to the video distributionequipment that contains the user defined identifier for one of the videoreceiver devices and an instruction for the video distribution equipmentto redirect a video program that the video distribution equipment iscommunicating to one video receiver device to instead be communicated toanother video receiver device that is associated with the user definedidentifier.